Deep red lipstick in varying berry hues; one of autumn’s trickier trends but once …

How To Apply the Dark Berry Lipstick Beauty Trend – AW12

With focus firmly on the lips and a minimal is more aesthetic, John Rochas’ models’ alabaster complexions were perfected with demi-matte foundation, finished with a touch of highlighter to contour, carve and define.

With a matte, pressed-on finish, wine hued lipsticks had a multi-tonal texture that was subtly blended for a softer look.

Speaking about the dark red lipstick trend, make-up artist Liz Pugh explains that ‘For an easy-to-wear look, try applying lipstick straight from the bullet, blot and then feather the edges with a soft brush.’ It takes the onus away from your lips for a less gothic, more wearable finish.

With its velvety, soft-focus finish, it coats lips with matte colour that’s as pigment-rich as its high-shine counterparts. Although weightless, the formula can be drying, so take the time to prep your lips and ensure they’re hydrated and flake-free first.

With bleached brows and natural finish skin, Gucci’s wine-stained mouths were a firm focus at its autumn winter 2012 show. Proving that it’s crucial to keep the rest of your make-up minimal, the look was finished with a light dusting of blusher on cheeks.

Take notes from the show and follow suit; eyes should be without make-up and brows groomed to perfection to allow bold lip colours to take centre stage.

Lip Color in Blackberry by Bobbi Brown

Although Bobbi Brown’s Blackberry lipstick boasts a high-shine formula, (which, take note, is more wearable than matte lipsticks and a great way to tiptoe into the trend) if you prefer the flat, matte lips spotted backstage at Gucci, the shade can be easily transformed.

Focus the bullet on the outskirts of lips before gently erasing excess pigment from the fullest part of your bottom lip with fingertips then dust with powder for a just-bitten, berry stain.

Lacquer Rouge Lipstick in Nocturne by Shiseido

With the simple application of a lip gloss but the lasting power of a pigment-rich lipstick, Shiseido’s Lacquer Rouge adorns lips with an intense hit of colour.

Solving the problem of chapping, the emollient rich lacquer banishes peeling leaving lips moisturised and flake-free. Apply straight to lips from the bud or pat it on with fingertips for a sheer stain.

With lips stained with blackish-red pigment, the make-up maestros behind Bottega Veneta’s statement lip took measures to ensure the result was clean and modern opposed to gothic. Lips were lined to prevent feathering, cupid’s bows were precisely defined and brows were bleached to draw focus to the statement shade.

While the deep rouge worked with ease on the catwalk, make the look more wearable by mastering the art of clever application. Try patting, blotting and pressing pigment on instead of applying lipstick straight from the tube for a lived-in look.

Reverse Lipliner by Duwop

Forget trying to match your liner to your lipstick, this does-it-all lip liner from Duwop is the only pencil you need.

Halting feathering in its tracks, the waxy pencil also has the added advantage of giving the illusion of fuller lips and erasing fine lines. Although it seems alien, simply trace the pencil along the outside of your lip line before filling in with lipstick for a bleed-free finish.

Super Lustrous Lipstick in Dark Cherry by Revlon

Our go-to for affordable lipsticks, in the shade of the season, Revlon’s dark cherry lipstick packs a pigment punch, making it a great choice for tackling the catwalk’s berry lipstick trend.

While it can be stroked onto lips with a brush for a precise finish, applied straight from the bullet, the suits-all-skintones shade has an instant skin-brightening effect. Try working a small amount of product onto lips with fingertips for a wearable, sheer wash of colour.

Work backwards and start by painting your lips before tackling the rest of your make-up. Forgo blusher; the only colour should be on your lips. If your eyes are in need of definition, try lining your upper water line with brown kohl - it’ll subtly transfer to your lower lash line when you blink.

Lip Primer Potion by Urban Decay

Guaranteeing your lipstick won’t flake or fade, a primer is the secret to ensure your deep red lip is long lasting.

Helping lipstick to stay colour-true for hours, Urban Decay’s wax-like primer helps take the colour out of your lips to give a lipstick truer pigment. Gliding on like a lipstick, its formula is a little drying, so to maximise its effects, paint it on after using a lip balm.

Rouge Pur Couture The Mats in Prune Virgin by Yves Saint Laurent

Packing an unmatchable pigment punch, Prune Virgin from Yves Saint Laurent’s The Mats (a colour rich, highly pigmented matte collection) is no different from the rest of its high-performance lipstick line.

Packed with oils and emollients it’s moisturising yet matte, colour-rich and not patchy and a must-have addition for your autumn beauty bag. With its precise tip it can be applied straight from the tube without bleeding or feathering.

With an intense matte finish, Topshop’s lip crayon in Suspect is the perfect tool for recreating the catwalk’s statement lips.

Although a little drying (it’ll need to be topped up every few hours) it’s affordable, foolproof to use and delivers intense pigment. Giving the illusion of lipstick and doubling up as a liner, take the time to precisely line your lips before filling them in.

If you’re a fan of autumn’s berry lip trend, why not try out another bold lip look? Or head over to our product reviews for more great beauty buys.